Incredible footage captured the moment a herd of bison killed an elk to placate a hungry wolf.
The wolf had been in pursuit of the lone elk calf when the young animal instinctively tried to seek refuge among the herd of bison. The bison were not privy to providing sanctuary, however, and aggressively tackled the calf to the ground. The calf didn’t survive the encounter, and ended up being an easy meal for the lucky wolf.
While brutal, this behavior is quite typical of bison; These guys are known for their unpredictable temperament, and will often attack without warning or reason. Both male and female bison use their sharp, curved horns to attack. They’ll also use their immense heads as battering rams, and will maim animals with their powerful hind legs. You don’t want to mess with bison.
Watch the video below:
Elk are the largest members of the deer family, and are generally found in large herds of up to 400 individuals. This calf had, unfortunately, been separated from the herd which made him extremely vulnerable. When he instinctually sought safety from the bison herd, he was immediately rejected.
Wolves often hunt elk, but generally as a pack. They’re the most specialized for game hunting of all the canids due to their social nature, their expressive behavior (like howling) and their physical adaptations for taking down sizable prey. Surprisingly though, single wolves and mated pairs have the highest hunting success rates.
The videos below show some more common, though no less amazing, wolf hunts:
